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GRAPE STEMMEN AND .CRUSHEIL` Patented Oct. 6, 1885 N PLIERSPhom-Lixhognphcr. washinglen. D. C.

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G. JOHNSTON 8E E. G. SMITH. 'GRAPE STEMMER AND GRUSHBR. No. 327,693.Patented Oct. 6, 1885,

N. PETERS. Phummhugmphef. wnsningmn, nA C.

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE JOHNSTON, OF SAN FRANCISCO, AND EDV 1N G. SMITH, OF SACRA- MENTO,CALIFORNIA.

-GRAPE STEMMER AND CRUSHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.327,693, dated October6, 1885.

Application filed March 9, L85.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE JOHNSTON, of the city and county of SanFrancisco, and EDWIN G. SMITH, of Sacramento, Sacramento county, Stateof California, have invented an Improvement in Grape Stemmers andCrushers; and we hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the saine.

Our invention relates to an apparatus for stemming and crushing grapes.

It consists of an approximately horizontal case, in one end of which thebunches of grapes are delivered, a series of revolving arms or beatersxed upon a shaft which extends through the case, and a series of angularadjustable or stationary spirals or guides xed within the case, by whichthe stems are caused to pass out at the opposite end of the case afterbeing separated from the grapes, a chute through which the separatedgrapes are delivered to the peculiarly-constructed rollers, and aninclined revolving and perforated drum or cylinder, within which thepulpandjuice are finally separated.

Referring tothe accompanying drawings for a more complete explanation ofour invention, Figure l is a longitudinal vertical section taken throughthe axis ofthe easing. Fig. 2 is a transverse section showing therelative arrangements of the casing and rollers and the adjustment ofthe separating-spirals. Fig. 3 is a top View.

A is a casing, of suitable length and diameter,mountedpreferablyinanearly or quitehorizontal position. Through thiscasing a shaft, B, extends, having blades or beaters C extending outwardfrom it nearly to the circumference of the lower part of the casing,which may be semi-cylindrical. One end of this shaft has a pulley orother suitable means by which it may be driven from any convenientsource ofpower. The upper part of the casing A need not be cylindrical,the upper portion of it being at a greater distance from the centralshaft than the lower portion. YVithin this upper portion are fixedguides or strips E, the outer edges of which iit the interior of thecasing, while the inner curves approach closely to the edges of thebeaters or blades,which are fixed to the central shaft. These guides orplates are fixed at an angle within the casing, so as to form par-Serial No. 158,224. (No model.)

tially spiral guides by which the stems which are separated from thegrapes are gradually forced along the casing until they are dischargedat the opposite end. One end of each of these guides is secured by ascrew passing through the hole in the outside of the casing, and theother end has a similar screw passing through a longitudinal slot in theother side of the casing by which this end may be moved 6o so that theangle or spiral formed by the guides will be greater or less, as may bedesired.

At one end of the casing is a hopper, F, into which the bunches ofgrapes are de1ivered,and as they pass into the casing the blades orbeaters will separate the grapes from the stems. The grapes will falldown through a suitable opening in the lower part ofthe casing,while thestems are gradually advanced through the case unt-il they fall out atthe opposite end. 7o The grapes fall through a guidechute,G, upon twocorrugated rollers, H, which are mounted horizontally upon shafts, so asto rotate side by side,with their corrugated faces interlocking ormoving together, so that the grapes which pass between them will bethoroughly crushed. The meeting faces of these rollers are covered withrubber or other similar elastic material, which extends entirely aroundthem, andthe depressions or concavities of each roller have a metalplate, l, formed with the same curve and secured in the concavities, soas to hold the rubber in its place and prevent its slipping or movingupon the roller, at the same time the raised portion of the oppositeroller-,being covered with rubber to fit into the depressiomwhich ismetal lined, will be sufficiently elastic to prevent the crushing of theseeds which may pass between the rollers. After passing through therollers the juice and pulp are discharged into a hopper or ohute,J, fromwhich they are delivered into an inclined cylinder, K, which isperforated with holes, so that the j uice may fall through into areceptacle beneath, while the skins and pulp are gradually advancedthrough the cylinder by reason of its inclination until they fall out ofthe opposite end of the cylinder in a nearly dry condition.

By this construction the work of stemming loe the grapes, reducing themto a pulp, and separating the juice from the skins and pulp withoutallowing it to remain too long upon them is effected rapidly, and with avery small amount of labor.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a grape stemming and crushing apparatus, a horizontal casing withrevolving arms or blades within it, in combination with the stationaryspirally-arranged guides, substantially as herein described.

2. In a grape Crusher and stemmer, ahorizontal casing with the arms orblades revolving within it, the spirallyfarranged guides secured in theupper portion, andthe screws passing through slots in the casing,whereby the angle of the spirals may be regulated, substantially asherein described.

3. In combination with the horizontal casing with its separating bladesand guides, the directing chute or hopper into which the grapes fallfrom the casing and the corrugated rotating yrollers between which theypass,sub stantially as herein described.

4. The corrugated crushing-rollers having the exterior perforated coverof elastic material, in combination with concave metallic plates xed inthe depression of each roller, substantially as herein described.

5. In a grape-crushing apparatus, the stemming and crushing mechanism,as herein shown, in combination with an inclined perforated rotatn gcylinder and a chute by which the pulp is. delivered into the saidcylinder, substantially as herein described.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands.

GEORGE JOHNSTON. EDWIN G. SMITH. Witnesses:

HENRY O. LEE, A. B. VENABLE.

